Driving modes.

Rich-hill

Member
Hi all,

Collected a 2009 Z4 35i DCT Friday and been experimenting with the driver modes.

I notice when I place it in sport + it doesn’t turn the amber light on for the transcript control... reading the manual and other posts I was led to believe this should happen automatically?

If I press the DSC button I have the ‘traction’ appear. After a long depress it says OFF.

Is this normal? I realise a lot of posts online and videos are from the USA and aware there cars may differ slightly.
 
Having driven a good few miles today I notice that in sport + the DSC lamp stays off, and under hard acceleration it feels like the DSC is cutting in.
 
Sport is one press, no amber light.

Sport + is two presses, make sure it says sport + on the dash screen.

The traction light should come on.

If not, you could try holding down the DSC off button until the screen goes yellow, saying traction off.
(Then its really off) and toggling modes.
Then turn the car off and on again, and re-select sport +
See if it comes on automatically then.
It may jostle things about... worth a try.
 
If you hold button down it jumps form normal to sport +.
Holding DSC turns it off, word traction and ! appears for say driving in snow? Whats wrong with saying traction OFF.
I do think that some of BMWs terminology in this area a bit confusing, like they are trying to give you something rather than take it away.

BMW had some good videos on this, but they removed them.
 
flybobbie said:
If you hold button down it jumps form normal to sport +.
Holding DSC turns it off, word traction and ! appears for say driving in snow? Whats wrong with saying traction OFF.
I do think that some of BMWs terminology in this area a bit confusing, like they are trying to give you something rather than take it away.

BMW had some good videos on this, but they removed them.

I think its for mad drifting, and burnouts!
For the promotional videos.... or if some new tyres are due.
I have never tried it tho...
 
If I press it once it days sport. Press it twice it’s aport + NO amber lights.

If I tap the traction button it says ‘traction’ if I hold it it says DSC OFF.

Throughout all of this I have no amber light. The light works as it’s there on ignition start up.

While in sport + on loose ground or under hard acceleration the traction control system cuts in killing power/braking very quickly.

Previous BMW’s I have had, it’s allowed far more slip.
 
Has it been remapped for more power?

If so, maybe the traction stays on in sport +

Just an idea.

The light should come on in sport+ may be best to have a technician take a look at it.
 
I don’t think it’s been remapped? If so it doesn’t feel like it’s much faster ? Unless it’s a really subtle remap.
 
So from a traction\stability point of view, is there a difference from going into sport plus or leaving it in normal and pressing the traction control button for a split second?
 
gwatson said:
So from a traction\stability point of view, is there a difference from going into sport plus or leaving it in normal and pressing the traction control button for a split second?

Sport plus will also change throttle response too. As for stability I don’t think so?

No launch control unless you’re in sport plus either 😂
 
Today has been the first day I’ve driven in the wet.

So turned the traction control off (10 second hold). Other than it saying off I had no yellow lights on, applying throttle I would still get a flashing light as TC cut in, so would appear I can’t actually turn it off?!
 
A friend let me use a basic code reader that didn’t show up any faults.

Is there a possibility a fuse of sorts or something that simple could have gone? Seeing as it’s an entire system that’s affected via 1 switch?

Just trying to think a little outside the box
 
Hello guys!

I have a 23i, bought last year.
It is a manual and I have a question regarding the driving modes.

When in Sport+ the DTC is on but the car feels quicker.
I guess that has to do with the throttle response.
When in Sport+ and I deactivate the traction control, does it go back to normal?
I don't feel the same punch from the throttle.
 
Back
Top Bottom